Xbox’s most eccentric studio keeps winning

For a stretch, it looked like Double Fine might have lost its footing within Microsoft’s sprawling empire. Tim Schafer’s studio, famous for quirky gems like Brütal Legend and Broken Age, seemed quiet after Microsoft acquired it in 2019. The only major release for years was the long-awaited Psychonauts 2. But lately, Double Fine is on a hot streak. Last year brought the wonderfully bizarre Keeper, a game about a sentient lighthouse. This week, the studio dropped Kiln, a multiplayer brawler packed with adorable spirits and a heavy dose of pottery. It’s another offbeat delight that could only come from this eccentric team.

At its core, Kiln is a four-on-four competitive showdown. Each team must gather water scattered across the map and use it to douse the opposing team’s kiln. First to extinguish the enemy’s fire wins. Think of it as a streamlined League of Legends , similar structure, but far clearer objectives. No leveling up, no minions, no XP farming. Just players sprinting around, brawling, and hauling water.

What makes Kiln truly unique is its pottery theme, which adds clever layers to the action. Each player controls a cute floating spirit that operates like a hermit crab. To compete, these spirits must inhabit a pot. The type of pot you choose matters enormously. They function as character classes: a big pot can soak up damage but holds little water, while a fragile bottle-shaped pot carries more water and excels at offense. The best part? You sculpt these pots yourself using a virtual pottery wheel. It’s tactile and fun , you shape clay with the joysticks, then unlock customization options like add-ons and colorful glazes. You can craft multiple pots, but in each match you bring three, swapping between them when you respawn. That adds strategy: your lineup not only looks cool but also grants different abilities.

The matches themselves are pure chaos. Even the sturdiest pots are destructible, so there’s a fine line between aggression and getting smashed. Controls are simple , one regular attack, one special, plus roll and jump , and the pace is blistering. You respawn in seconds, leaving barely a moment to breathe. The level design amplifies the frenzy. Stages are small, keeping enemies close, and each map has a unique layout for health and water collection. Interactive elements add twists: one level has rotating boats for sneaky attacks, another features a conveyor belt with explosive boxes and hiding spots. My favorite is the disco floor stage, where standing on a tile at the wrong moment forces you to dance helplessly for several critical seconds.

While Kiln isn’t a shooter, it reminds me most of Splatoon. Both take an intimidating genre , online competitive multiplayer , and make it playful and approachable. Teamwork matters, but you can get by without voice chat. Just watch your teammates so someone defends your kiln while someone else splashes the enemy base. Matches last only a few minutes, but you’ll constantly sprint between offense and defense, like a bizarre game of basketball.

That said, Kiln has room to grow. Right now, there’s only one game mode. It’s fun, but could become repetitive. Not every game needs to be a live-service behemoth, but a bit more variety would help.

Still, Kiln is a solid game that packs the highs and lows of multiplayer into a tight, concise package. What really elevates it is that signature Double Fine style and goofiness. It’s silly, like running around a Saturday morning cartoon beating up your friends. And it’s another sign that, no matter where Double Fine lands, it will always be weird in the best way.

Kiln is available now on PS5, Xbox, and PC.